The North Carolina State Health Plan (NCSHP), the state employee health plan, categorically excludes coverage for gender-confirming health care. Lambda Legal and TLDEF are representing several current and former state employees and their children who were denied coverage under the plan for medically necessary health care because they are transgender.

Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF)

Harris Wiltshire & Grannis LLP

Clients

Max Kadel (pronouns he/him), a 36-year-old transgender man who works as an Administrative Support Associate at the UNC School of Government.

Michael Bunting (pronouns he/him), Shelley Bunting (pronouns she/her), and C.B. (pronouns he/him). Shelley and Michael, who has been a UNC employee since 1990, are parents of 13-year-old C.B., who is transgender.

Julia McKeown (pronouns she/her), a 43-year-old transgender woman who is an Assistant Professor in the Teacher Education and Learning Sciences Department of North Carolina State University College of Education.

Sam Silvaine (pronouns he/him, they/them), a 30-year-old transgender person who was employed at North Carolina State University and enrolled in the NCSHP Plan from 2016-2018.